Chapter 152: Chapter 152

From that day onward, Eldest Aunt Yang never mentioned again how Guoqing resembled his father. The stark contrast in her attitude made Third Sister, who had heard this comparison countless times before, laugh until she doubled over.

However, Third Sister soon had more pressing matters to occupy her mind. As spring arrived, An Ning's current body was about to turn seven years old, while Third Sister was already considered a ten-year-old young lady.

One day, An Ning couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise when she saw Third Sister intently reading an old newspaper she had apparently picked up somewhere. "Sis, you can actually read characters?" she asked in amazement.

"Of course I can! Your sister is... is..." Third Sister began proudly, but then suddenly choked on her words.

Damn it! She had almost forgotten—this body was still illiterate! A ten-year-old illiterate at that. The realization instantly soured Third Sister's mood.

After a long pause, facing her little sister's innocent gaze, Third Sister awkwardly scratched her head and stammered, "I... I just picked up a few words when I went to the literacy class with Mom before!"

"You're so amazing, sis! I don't recognize any of these characters at all!" An Ning said without suspicion, lowering her head in imitation of her original self's mannerisms, nervously fiddling with her fingers.

"Heh, heh... Don't worry, little sis. We'll soon change that!" Third Sister replied before drifting away in a daze. Only then did An Ning step forward to neatly fold and put away the discarded newspaper.

True to form, within a few days at the dinner table, before the Old Yang family had even taken more than a few bites, Third Sister eagerly announced her education plan: "No matter what, my little sister and I must go to school this year!"

Little girls who didn't even work properly now wanted to study? What wishful thinking! Their village didn't even have a school—they'd have to travel far to the neighboring commune. Not only would this waste work time going back and forth, but tuition and textbook fees would cost several mao a year. Even their precious grandson Guoqing, the eldest grandson of the family, had never gone to school.

Glancing at Old Man Yang, who clearly had no intention of agreeing, Third Sister coldly snorted and put down her chopsticks: "I don't care. Even if we have to join mid-term, my little sister and I are enrolling this year."

Illiteracy? No way. Not in this lifetime. The very thought of this frustrating reality instantly energized Third Sister, filling her with unprecedented courage: "I'm going to school no matter what! Otherwise, I'll go to the police station and tell them how Uncle pushed his own mother toward wild boars—what do you call that? It's called indirect..."

"Sis..." Before Eldest Uncle Yang could explode, An Ning gently tugged at her sister's sleeve. Looking at Old Man Yang at the head of the table, she softly said, "Sis and I gathered medicinal herbs in the mountains recently and sold them at the county pharmacy. It wasn't much, but it's enough for both our tuitions this year."

"Herbs from the mountain? How would you two little girls know about that?" Before An Ning could answer, Third Sister jumped in: "Hmph! Who are you looking down on, Auntie? It was Doctor Zhou from the county—the one who treated little sister before. He specifically taught us when we went to thank him."

Thinking of that precious jar of wild honey they'd painstakingly obtained, Third Sister felt a rare pang of regret. Only then did Old Man Yang's cloudy gaze settle on his two granddaughters, though he remained silent for a long while.

Just as Third Sister was about to lose her temper, the old man finally spoke: "Eat first."

"Sis, do you think Grandpa will agree?" Third Sister asked anxiously on their way back after the tasteless meal. Compared to Old Lady Yang, the old man usually seemed less detestable, but Third Sister hadn't forgotten how he'd watched their second branch suffer all these years.

There was no way this old fart was a good person!

In front of Third Sister, An Ning shook her head lightly, wearing an equally uneasy expression, though inwardly she was already reassured. Old Man Yang's attitude clearly showed he had already agreed—not because he suddenly valued his cheap granddaughters, but because he saw potential value in them after their recent actions.

During her time here, An Ning had come to understand the Yang family's nature. Though they similarly exploited the second branch, unlike Old Lady Yang who blindly favored her precious eldest son, Old Man Yang was far more calculating and rational.

An Ning guessed that while he had previously allowed this unfairness due to partiality toward his eldest son—the future support for the elderly couple—there was also the simple fact that a son who wouldn't rebel no matter how exploited was too good a resource to waste. Had Second Uncle Yang shown any capability or backbone, the old man would never have permitted such treatment.

But things were different now. After recent events, someone as shrewd as Old Man Yang would never pin all his hopes on the eldest branch again. With the eldest branch unreliable, it was only natural to start cultivating favor with the other branches, including the younger generation.

This was precisely why she had deliberately crippled Old Lady Yang but spared the old man. Calculating people were far easier to handle than the emotionally driven.

As expected, An Ning's speculation proved correct. The next day at dinner, before Third Sister could speak, Old Man Yang announced his decision: "Since the girls want to study, Second Son, you'll take them there tomorrow!"

Before Third Sister could celebrate, Third Uncle Yang thoughtfully glanced at the sisters, then suddenly raised his chopsticks: "Father, actually, Second Ya is also old enough..." He quickly added, "But don't worry—our third branch will pay for it ourselves!"